AP Enterprise: Tea party hopefuls in close races

More than 70 tea party candidates are on ballots nationwide, and an analysis by The Associated Press finds that nearly three dozen are locked in competitive House races.

From the hundreds of conservative activists who took up the cause this year, these candidates have emerged to capture nominations - mostly Republican - and are running with the support of loosely organized tea party groups or in alignment with a movement that is furious at the government.

Some of the candidates are political newcomers who have struggled to organize and raise money and have little chance of winning on Nov. 2. But the AP analysis finds that about 35 candidates appear to be waging viable campaigns that have put them ahead or within striking distance of their opponents.